Man Admits to Smuggling Sea Cucumbers

Our NBC News partners at NBC San Diego are reporting a man has admitted to smuggling thousands of dollars'
worth of dried sea cucumbers into the U.S. from Mexico, according to
federal officials.

On Thursday, Cheng Zhuo Liu, 50,
pleaded guilty to smuggling 100 pounds of the endangered species on Oct.
3, 2013 by hiding them in his Hyundai's spare tire area, according to
U.S. Attorney Laura Duffy.

That amount of sea cucumbers has a market value of between $5,000 and $10,000.

The marine animals are protected
under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, so
those who import them into the U.S. need a permit.

Duffy said Liu admitted he didn't have any permits.

A black market has grown around the illegal sea cucumber trade in Asia, where Duffy said a pound might sell for $300.

Liu agreed to forfeit the sea
cucumber seized. He faces a maxiumum sentence of five years in prison
and a $20,000 fine on June 9.

Dried sea cucumber is used in Chinese cuisine as hoi sam, as well as for medicinal purposes.

Smuggling the animals has become a
problem in Indonesia, Japan, Sri Lanka and Mexico. In the Caribbean Sea
off the Yucatan Peninsula, illegal harvesting has decimated the sea
cucumber populations. Rival gangs have clashed for control of the
harvest, according to the U.S. Attorney.

Sea cucumbers have long, leathery
bodies and are found on the ocean flood worldwide. The species Liu had
is typically found in the Pacific Coast of Mexico, Central and South
America, the Biodiversity Heritage Library says.

A social worker speaks with News 4 about why she believes the state needs to reform its Safekeeper Law. Under the law, those awaiting trial in county jails across the state can be moved to a state prison if that jail cannot treat an inmate's medical condition.

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